FLEMINGTON — Borough Council passed a $5,245,483 municipal budget for 2014 at last night's meeting. This budget is 5.16% higher than 2013's spending, and it requires a 14.66% increase in the tax rate. For the average home in the borough, which is valued at $246,386, this will mean an annual increase of $309.87.

Before the vote, Councilman Joey Novick said he thought the $220,000 set aside to begin a capital improvement fund was $100,000 too high. The fund would help pay for future purchases of heavy equipment and for road work. But Novick said if the rest of council doesn't agree, he would still support the budget.

Councilman Phil Greiner reminded him that this discussion had been already had while council was crafting the budget and an agreement had been reached.

Novick didn't dispute that. He said after the last budget session, Lois Stewart, a fiscally conservative resident, had persuaded him to press for cutting the $100,000, an argument she continued at the hearing on the budget.

Borough CFO Bill Hance told council that regardless of whether the money should be cut out, to revise the budget at this point would delay its passage, which would delay the mailing of the tax bills, which might cause cash flow problems.

Council decided to bite the bullet and put the full amount into the fund so as to reduce borrowing in the future. As he'd promised, Novick voted with the rest of council.

The municipal budget accounts for only a fraction of the property tax bill that must be paid by owners of real estate in the borough. That bill will also include tax levies to help fund the K-8 school district, Hunterdon Central High School and the county government.